Child care providers in RI vote to unionize

The Service Employees International Union said Thursday that the vote among providers in the state's Child Care Assistance Program was 390 to 19 in favor of joining District 1199 SEIU New England. There were 539 eligible voters.

The General Assembly this year approved legislation allowing certain child care workers to unionize. The vote will allow the workers to negotiate with the state over pay and benefits.

Voting began Saturday at various locations. Ballots were counted on Thursday at the State Labor Relations Board office in Cranston.

The Child Care Assistance Program pays for some of the costs of child care for children under 13 from low-income working families.